Monday, February 25, 2008

Last night, I went to a rally to see Hillary Clinton speak. It was a truly meaningful experience; I had never been to an actual political rally before (unless you count the time my dad ran for Selectman of my then-tiny town). The air was simply electric. People waved "Hillary for President" and "Clinton Country" signs. I sat with two women, one a baroque musician and another a former researcher and now high school biology teacher. They were making a film of the event, and asked me to say a small piece for their camcorder. The teacher had made a fabulous sign that read

A Woman's Place is in the House

with a picture of the White House below it along with the usual "Hillary for President" slogan. We had a great talk about the importance of education and investing in science.

Hillary is a very dynamic speaker, and here is where I noticed a marked difference between the media portrayals and reality. I always see the photos of Hillary and the news analyses that paint her as cool and calm, an "ice queen" if you will. But in person, she connects with the audience. I cheered until I was hoarse as she said she wanted to invest more in science a la the space race. She spoke about health care and wanting to cap the percentage of income that could be spent on health insurance with federal assistance for any additional costs.

And while I voted for her because I feel she is the best candidate, there is something truly amazing about seeing a woman making this amazing campaign toward the White House. If she makes it, it will be the ultimate shattering of a glass ceiling.

It's difficult to describe how I felt listening to her, and being in a room of people who believe so much in her. I felt a surge of hope, a swirl of pride, and just an incredible push to do something. And so, today I'm doing something. I'm writing this post in the hope that you will join me in my enthusiasm for this amazing candidate. Please, if you're in Texas, Vermont, Rhode Island, or Ohio, the upcoming primary states, please, vote, and vote for Hillary Clinton. Let's repair America and restore it to its roots of hope and equality.